US5519909A - Trough bridge comprising nestable modules - Google Patents

Trough bridge comprising nestable modules Download PDF

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Publication number
US5519909A
US5519909A US08/305,659 US30565994A US5519909A US 5519909 A US5519909 A US 5519909A US 30565994 A US30565994 A US 30565994A US 5519909 A US5519909 A US 5519909A
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bridge
roadway
modules
trough
individual
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US08/305,659
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Reinhold Fuessinger
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Dornier GmbH
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Dornier GmbH
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01D—CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, ELEVATED ROADWAYS OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES
    • E01D15/00—Movable or portable bridges; Floating bridges
    • E01D15/12—Portable or sectional bridges
    • E01D15/133—Portable or sectional bridges built-up from readily separable standardised sections or elements, e.g. Bailey bridges

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a trough bridge with a plane roadway and upward extending side walls of the type generally disclosed in European Patent No. 0,290,405 A1.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a bridge which may be stacked or nested together for transport purposes such that the smallest possible transport dimensions are attained.
  • the bridge according to the present invention is a trough bridge with a plane roadway situated on the bottom and into which the bottom chords are integrated, and with upward extending side walls on whose upper ends are arranged the top chords of the supporting structure.
  • the bridge of the present invention is dividable longitudinally into an arbitrary number of modules, the length of which may be adapted to the available transport length.
  • Each individual bridge module can be used as an individual bridge without requiring additional components such as, e.g., ramps.
  • the individual bridge modules are nested into each other for transport such that a very small transport height is attained.
  • the advantages of the bridge according to the present invention are small transport dimensions at a large structural height; no ramps or ramp angles are required due to the plane roadway; adequate visibility of the bridge for vehicles entering or crossing the bridge; short bridges and central sections are identical, meaning that large bridges may be constructed of several small bridges.
  • the lateral parts of the bridge consisting of the side walls and the roadway slabs are pushed together.
  • the central roadway slabs are initially folded on the outer regions of the roadway perpendicular to the roadway direction, and both lateral parts of the bridge are subsequently pushed together.
  • the individual bridge elements may be connected with each other via a bolt or a hammer coupling.
  • Sections of installation beams and/or transverse girders may be accommodated in the upper bridge module of the stack so as to reduce the transport space.
  • the bridge is installed advantageously module-by-module from bottom to top.
  • the bridge is installed advantageously module-by-module from top to bottom.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bridge according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of bridge modules prepared for transport
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of several bridges of different length according to the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view of the connection between the bridge modules by way of bolts
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view similar to FIG. 4 but of the connection between the bridge modules by way of hammer couplings.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a trough bridge having a plane roadway. Exemplary numerical dimensions are provided.
  • the bridge also comprises two side walls SW which extend upward at the edges of the roadway at an angle of greater than or equal to ( ⁇ ) 90° with the roadway.
  • the top chords OG extend outwardly in the upper edge region of the side walls SW.
  • the left and the right portions of the plane roadway comprise the bottom chords which are constructed as outer roadway slabs FA and are adjoined by two additional inner roadway slabs FI which are connected with the outer roadway slabs FA via articulated joints or hinges.
  • the inner roadway slabs FI may be folded upward/outward at the hinges perpendicular to the roadway direction, so that the inner roadway slabs FI lie on the bottom chords/outer roadway slabs FA.
  • a transverse girder Q connects the two lateral parts of the bridge consisting of the top chord OG, the side wall SW, and the two roadway slabs FI, FA which are connected via articulated joints.
  • a guardrail SB may be arranged advantageously at the outer regions of the roadway. In addition to the illustrated arrangement in which a distance exists between the inner roadway slabs, it is also possible to construct the bridge so that said inner roadway slabs directly adjoin each other.
  • FIG. 2 shows the bridge in a transport condition in which the individual bridge modules B of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 are stacked on top of each other on a pallet P inside of a container CO, namely a way such that the individual modules are nested in each other.
  • the transverse girders Q were previously removed, and the inner roadway slabs FI were folded toward the outside such that they lie on the bottom chords FA in order to reduce the width for transport.
  • the lateral parts which are separated from each other after the aforementioned; folding process, have been pushed together.
  • Sufficient storage space SR exists for the installation beams VBT in the upper module of the stack. Additional intermediate spaces SR which result between the individual modules or between the stack and the container walls may be used for accommodating the transverse girders Q.
  • the bridge according to the present invention consists of individual bridge modules B which can each also be used as an individual bridge.
  • This modular structure provides a high flexibility for using the bridge. Some examples for using this bridge are illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the four illustrated bridge modules can be used separately or can be combined to form larger bridges to achieve the desired length. Additional bridge parts, e.g., ramp components, are thus not required.
  • the individual modules may be connected with each other via bolts and/or hammer couplings.
  • the bridge modules B are connected via a bolt BZ at the bottom chord UG, while hammer couplings HK are used at the top chord OG.
  • the bridge modules B are connected by hammer couplings HK at the top as well as the bottom chord OG, UG.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)

Abstract

A trough bridge is provided with a plane roadway and upward extending side walls. Top chords are arranged on the upper ends of the side walls. The bridge can be divided along the roadway into an arbitrary number of modules, the length of which may be adapted to the available transport length. The individual bridge modules may be nested in each other for transport such that a stack with a very small transport height results.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trough bridge with a plane roadway and upward extending side walls of the type generally disclosed in European Patent No. 0,290,405 A1.
An object of the present invention is to provide a bridge which may be stacked or nested together for transport purposes such that the smallest possible transport dimensions are attained.
This object has been attained in accordance with the present invention by a bridge which is constructed of individual modules which can be nested on each other so as to result in a stack with the smallest practical height.
The bridge according to the present invention is a trough bridge with a plane roadway situated on the bottom and into which the bottom chords are integrated, and with upward extending side walls on whose upper ends are arranged the top chords of the supporting structure.
The bridge of the present invention is dividable longitudinally into an arbitrary number of modules, the length of which may be adapted to the available transport length. Each individual bridge module can be used as an individual bridge without requiring additional components such as, e.g., ramps.
The individual bridge modules are nested into each other for transport such that a very small transport height is attained.
Among the advantages of the bridge according to the present invention are small transport dimensions at a large structural height; no ramps or ramp angles are required due to the plane roadway; adequate visibility of the bridge for vehicles entering or crossing the bridge; short bridges and central sections are identical, meaning that large bridges may be constructed of several small bridges.
In order to reduce the width for transport, the lateral parts of the bridge consisting of the side walls and the roadway slabs are pushed together. According to an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central roadway slabs are initially folded on the outer regions of the roadway perpendicular to the roadway direction, and both lateral parts of the bridge are subsequently pushed together.
The individual bridge elements may be connected with each other via a bolt or a hammer coupling. Sections of installation beams and/or transverse girders may be accommodated in the upper bridge module of the stack so as to reduce the transport space.
In further embodiment in which the lateral part of the individual modules are pushed together for transport purposes, the bridge is installed advantageously module-by-module from bottom to top.
In still other embodiments in which the lateral parts of the bridge are not pushed together for transport purposes, the bridge is installed advantageously module-by-module from top to bottom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bridge according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a stack of bridge modules prepared for transport; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of several bridges of different length according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view of the connection between the bridge modules by way of bolts; and FIG. 5 is a perspective partial view similar to FIG. 4 but of the connection between the bridge modules by way of hammer couplings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a trough bridge having a plane roadway. Exemplary numerical dimensions are provided. The bridge also comprises two side walls SW which extend upward at the edges of the roadway at an angle of greater than or equal to (≧) 90° with the roadway. The top chords OG extend outwardly in the upper edge region of the side walls SW. The left and the right portions of the plane roadway comprise the bottom chords which are constructed as outer roadway slabs FA and are adjoined by two additional inner roadway slabs FI which are connected with the outer roadway slabs FA via articulated joints or hinges. The inner roadway slabs FI may be folded upward/outward at the hinges perpendicular to the roadway direction, so that the inner roadway slabs FI lie on the bottom chords/outer roadway slabs FA. A transverse girder Q connects the two lateral parts of the bridge consisting of the top chord OG, the side wall SW, and the two roadway slabs FI, FA which are connected via articulated joints. A guardrail SB may be arranged advantageously at the outer regions of the roadway. In addition to the illustrated arrangement in which a distance exists between the inner roadway slabs, it is also possible to construct the bridge so that said inner roadway slabs directly adjoin each other.
FIG. 2 shows the bridge in a transport condition in which the individual bridge modules B of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 are stacked on top of each other on a pallet P inside of a container CO, namely a way such that the individual modules are nested in each other. The transverse girders Q were previously removed, and the inner roadway slabs FI were folded toward the outside such that they lie on the bottom chords FA in order to reduce the width for transport. The lateral parts, which are separated from each other after the aforementioned; folding process, have been pushed together. Sufficient storage space SR exists for the installation beams VBT in the upper module of the stack. Additional intermediate spaces SR which result between the individual modules or between the stack and the container walls may be used for accommodating the transverse girders Q. The bridge according to the present invention consists of individual bridge modules B which can each also be used as an individual bridge. This modular structure provides a high flexibility for using the bridge. Some examples for using this bridge are illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the four illustrated bridge modules can be used separately or can be combined to form larger bridges to achieve the desired length. Additional bridge parts, e.g., ramp components, are thus not required.
The individual modules may be connected with each other via bolts and/or hammer couplings. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the bridge modules B are connected via a bolt BZ at the bottom chord UG, while hammer couplings HK are used at the top chord OG. In the alternative embodiments according to FIG. 5, the bridge modules B are connected by hammer couplings HK at the top as well as the bottom chord OG, UG.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

What is claimed is:
1. A trough bridge, comprising a plane roadway and upward extending side walls, upper ends of the side walls having top chords arranged thereat, said bridge being dividingly configured along a roadway direction into a number of individual modules so as to be nestable in each other for transport to provide a nested stack with a minimized transport height.
2. The trough bridge according to claim 1, wherein lateral parts of the bridge are configured to be pushed toward each other so as to reduce bridge width for transport.
3. The trough bridge according to claim 1, wherein inner roadway slabs comprising the plane roadway are folded on outer regions of the plane roadway in a direction of the side walls, and lateral parts of the bridge are configured to be pushed toward each other to reduce bridge width for transport.
4. The trough bridge according to claim 1, wherein each of the individual modules are configured to be usable as an individual bridge without additional components.
5. The trough bridge according to claim 1 wherein the individual bridge modules are connected with each other via at least one of bolts and hammer couplings.
6. The trough bridge according to claim 1, wherein sections of installation beams or transverse girders are stored in an upper bridge module of the stack.
7. The trough bridge according to claim 5, wherein the individual modules are configured to be used as individual bridges without additional components.
8. The trough bridge according to claim 7, wherein the individual bridge modules are connected with each other via at least one of bolts and hammer couplings.
US08/305,659 1993-09-15 1994-09-14 Trough bridge comprising nestable modules Expired - Lifetime US5519909A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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DE4331254A DE4331254C2 (en) 1993-09-15 1993-09-15 bridge
DE4331254.3 1993-09-15

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5924152A (en) * 1997-11-11 1999-07-20 Maier; Peter Device that can be walked on or driven on
US10344436B2 (en) * 2016-11-01 2019-07-09 Tecnik Technologies Pty Limited Modular access structure

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19724575C1 (en) * 1997-06-11 1999-04-15 Man Technologie Gmbh Modular frame for railway track bridge
NL1033599C2 (en) * 2007-03-27 2008-09-30 Small Advanced Mobility B V Transport system for managing flow of vehicle i.e. wheeled vehicle, has multiple concrete track segments creating closed track made up of multiple lanes, where track segments are characterized by U-shaped cross profile
DE102008015420A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2009-10-01 Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh Bridge segment for use by armed forces for transporting e.g. bridge supporting armor and/or vehicle, has hook, pin, projection, cross hole and fastening bolt connected to enable detachable connection between bridge segments
DE102008015419A1 (en) * 2008-03-20 2009-10-01 Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh Modular bridge consists of multiple similar bridge segments, where individual bridge segments are designed in plate-shape manner and are connected together in detachable manner
GB2571253B (en) * 2018-01-29 2023-04-12 Wfel Ltd Device and method for securing together and monitoring bridge modules in a modular bridge

Citations (6)

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FR1365143A (en) * 1963-08-03 1964-06-26 Method and device for producing a runway for trolleys on terrain with steep slopes
US3239862A (en) * 1963-03-13 1966-03-15 Res Mfg Inc Foldable bridge structure
US4635311A (en) * 1985-06-10 1987-01-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Military tactical bridge system, method and foldable modules
EP0290405A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-09 Giuseppe Drago Modular bridge structure
US5152109A (en) * 1990-10-11 1992-10-06 Wenger Corporation Portable performance platform
US5173981A (en) * 1990-04-18 1992-12-29 Karlskronavarvet Ab Bridge construction kit and bridge elements included therein

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DE928591C (en) * 1953-05-24 1955-06-06 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag Articulated connection of pontoon bodies, especially on swimming bridges
DE1127933B (en) * 1960-05-12 1962-04-19 Beteiligungs & Patentverw Gmbh Elongated, preferably metallic component, especially for bridges that can be dismantled
DE2013284A1 (en) * 1970-03-20 1971-10-07 Klockner Humboldt Deutz AG, 5000 Köln Floating bridge
DE2850849A1 (en) * 1978-11-24 1980-06-04 Porsche Ag DEVICE FOR FOLDING THE TRACKS OF A BRIDGE FOR TRANSPORTATION ON A VEHICLE
DE2921180C2 (en) * 1979-05-25 1982-09-02 Fried. Krupp Gmbh, 4300 Essen Bridge bar element
DE3814502C3 (en) * 1988-04-29 1995-08-03 Dornier Gmbh bridge
SE464518B (en) * 1989-04-03 1991-05-06 Kvistberga Produkter Handelsbo DEVICE FOR LIMITING THE EXTENSIBILITY BETWEEN TELESCOPICALLY COMPOSED PROFILE ELEMENTS IN A LOAD STAMP

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239862A (en) * 1963-03-13 1966-03-15 Res Mfg Inc Foldable bridge structure
FR1365143A (en) * 1963-08-03 1964-06-26 Method and device for producing a runway for trolleys on terrain with steep slopes
US4635311A (en) * 1985-06-10 1987-01-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Military tactical bridge system, method and foldable modules
EP0290405A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-09 Giuseppe Drago Modular bridge structure
US5173981A (en) * 1990-04-18 1992-12-29 Karlskronavarvet Ab Bridge construction kit and bridge elements included therein
US5152109A (en) * 1990-10-11 1992-10-06 Wenger Corporation Portable performance platform

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5924152A (en) * 1997-11-11 1999-07-20 Maier; Peter Device that can be walked on or driven on
US10344436B2 (en) * 2016-11-01 2019-07-09 Tecnik Technologies Pty Limited Modular access structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE4331254C1 (en) 1995-01-05
EP0643172A3 (en) 1995-08-09
DE4331254C2 (en) 2000-01-27
EP0643172B1 (en) 1997-03-05
EP0643172A2 (en) 1995-03-15

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